Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Then and Now.




Bella and Wyndham are almost ready to graduate from Kindergarten and so the teacher has asked us for some pictures of them when they were around 2 1/2. I went looking in my 'archives' and found some pictures that brought back wonderful memories. It's so fun to see how much they've grown and changed, and even more fun to see how much they're 'still the same'. Their personalities have been so different and distinct- even from very early on. It makes me nostalgic for those years that go by so quickly. It makes me more anxious and excited to think about the new baby we will welcome this fall. It makes me want to hang onto the moments that make up our days. Right now.
These pictures are bold reminders that time IS but a vapor...a mist. It's here and then gone so quickly. {Thank goodness for cameras!}
Now here's a fun question I'd love to see some of your answers to...what do YOU miss or remember about your own childhood? If you want to share some fun memories, I'd love to stroll down that lane with you. =)

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

i miss the safeness of childhood. i don't read the newspaper or watch the news, cuz of all the evil out there in the world. but i remember we didn't even lock our house. you could walk down the street without worry. some neighbor was always out and about if you fell off your bike or anything like that. i know bad things did happen, and maybe we just didn't hear about them, but i sure miss that bliss of ignornace!!

just my two cents. thanks for your blog and God bless you Jody.

Tabitha said...

My favourite memory from childhood is spending time with my Dad ~ we used to go on adventures in the woods ~ my sister and I would pretend we were explorers and my Dad would play along ~ great memories ~ long, hot, summer days with not a care in the world!!
What I wouldn't give for just one more day and one more adventure with my Dad !!!
Tabitha X

Lisa said...

saturday morning cartoons - remember when it was a treat to watch cartoons? now i'm thankful that nogging is 24 hours - but gee, what else could cole be doing instead of watching tv? what did i do? played i guess - enjoyed the simple things!!

Gretchyn said...

I remember riding bikes everywhere around the neighborhood, family vacations to the beach at Sequim, WA (pronounced SKWIM!) and Orcas Island, being out on Dad's boat, playing Barbies, loving spending time with my Oma, dressing my little brother up in my dance costumes, dance class, summer trips to the library for as many books as I could devour, skiing and sledding at Mt Hood, family Christmas at my aunt and uncle's house.

Ida said...

One of my favorite memories is of me and my sisters sneaking into my dads room on Saturday mornings to 'wake him up'. We would giggle and creep up to the side of the bed. He would snore and we would all run and then..> he would reach out and grab us all up and tickle us until we laughed so hard we were exhausted. My dad always worked two jobs, so this was a special time with him. What I wouldn't give for one more little tickle from my dad!
Thanks for your blog, love it!

Ida

Jenny said...

The Ice Cream Truck. I distinctly remember the glorious sound of the dinging bell that meant sweet treats were right around the corner! I would run as fast as I could into the house, grab some change and flag him down. I remember looking at the side of the truck at all the selections, but would usually settle for an orange push-up pop and a grape fun dip. So much fun!!!!

Cheeziemommie said...

Awww my daughter is graduation kindergarten soon too :( It goes so fast!
Ok so I really miss being comfortable wearing a bathing suit hahaha

Linda 85 said...

I really miss the whole carefree feeling of childhood. My brothers & sisters & I could play outside for hours in the barns on our family dairy farm. Thanks for bringing back the memories Jody. I love your blog!

Anonymous said...

Easter morning! Always having a brand new summer outfit. Always loved new clothes and still do.

Anne

Anonymous said...

I miss being care-free and playing outside!!! I could be your mom (age-wise) so my childhood was during a time I was allowed to roam the neighborhood in play.
My earliest thoughts are of also "listening" to my "shows" on the radio...we didn't get a t.v. until much later than most people. I was always told I had a very vivid imagination...something I think alot of kids really miss today due to all the "entertainment" they have in television, video games etc. etc.
I used to ride my bike everywhere. I loved how it would take me wherever I needed to go and quicker than walking.

Misty said...

I miss my great-grandparents. They don't make grandparents like that anymore. She cooked all the time, played with me, gardened, and Papaw was my favorite person in the world. I loved going to the grocery store with them on Wednesdays, turning in their glass bottles for money, then going to Pal's and feeding the pigeons our french fries. I journal about them all the time - sometimes the same things over, so I won't forget. I'm sad my kids won't have grandparents like that. Thanks for the invite to share! {{HUGS!}}

Just a Simple Gal - Judy in Huntsville - AL said...

Those lazy - hazy days of summer!Just hanging out on a tire swing pretending that we could be and / or do anything!And since I"m a working Mom - I planned extra hard for my boys to have those same leisurely hang out and play outside kind of days...[they're young adults now - with youngest graduating from HIGH SCHOOL - so I REALLY know what you mean about the nostalgia!]

Anonymous said...

I miss my Grandma and Grandpa coming over to watch "Wonderful World of Disney." We would cook hot dogs in the fireplace and my dad would make homemade potato chips.

Lorie said...

I miss family dinner every night, and how life was not so busy. I miss playing Barbies and playing outside from morning to dark. I miss my stereo and records and climbimg trees. I miss the feeling that everybody I ever knew went to church and all families had good Mom and Dads. I miss that every body elses Mom felt like my Mom and they would feed me or scold me or look out for me like my own Mom. I miss TV with no curse words and I Love Lucy. I miss getting one big present for Christmas layed out like Santa had come with a filled stocking. I miss every vacation was to Grandma's house- I never knew that families went places like the beach or other trips. I miss waking up in my Grandma's bed to the smell of bacon cooking and hot cinnamon rolls.
I love your blog and you are in my prayers. Conme check me out -you are one of my Favoriyes.
Be blessed-Lorie

Anna said...

Summers at my grandmother's. Those days were the best of the best. She had a huge garden we ran around in. She didn't have cable, so you had to find things to entertain you. My little cousin and I would spend long afternoons on the porch swing. We were so safe and happy there.

She died of cancer when I was in 6th or 7th grade. I would give anything in the world if I could have one more summer at her house.

Jane said...

i miss the simplicity of the 70s... it was lots of work, cause we lived on a working farm and had chores to do daily...but I miss the simplicity and get overloaded by the technology of today.

yesterday my husband and I prepared our garden spot...as a child, our garden was our main source of food (in addition to the cows and pigs in the barn/fields)...yesterday I took many trips down memory lane while working the ground.

Thanks for the walk down memory lane!

Regina said...

Growing up in a rural area, outside all the time, walking everywhere, catching crayfish and pollywogs, watching the chrysalis turn into the butterfly, playing in the creek, and always every day having other kids around to play with.

Karlynn said...

Does high school count as "childhood" Jody??? (hehe) If it does, then I miss YOU!! And Windjammers.... (haha!)

Seriously, I miss the simplicity of everything. Although at the time nothing seemed simple. But looking back on it, it sure did. I miss feeling safe to walk around my neighborhood alone, biking up to Dairy Queen, going for pizza with friends, being skinny (haha). Very thought provoking question. :) Thanks for your blog, Jody.

Karlynn

Kim said...

Now those are some cute faces!

Unknown said...

When my sister and I were young we lived on the outskirts of town where there were rolling hills and fun streams.
We used to make boats with our dad and race them down the streams. We would run through the hills free as a bird. We would be gone from sun up to sun down...not a care in the world.

We also had a pool in our back yard, and we would swim all day long..seriously...from 7 am when we woke up, until we were called in for dinner....and then we would hit the hot tub with our parents and friends at night....oh, my dad would put Calgon in our hot tub, and it would make great bubbles..we would get completely covered and then go jump in the pool...that's all for now...

sarah, rsm said...

I miss ... the vinyl smell of a brand-new baby doll at Christmas ... pretending to be Dorothy Hammel at the ice skating rink around the corner ... racing home before the street lights came on on summer nights ... Uncle Herb, banana flips, and a full 8 oz. bottle of coke that I didn't have to share with my 7 siblings ...

thanks for reminding me, Jody!

:)sarah

Unknown said...

Awwwww my lil one is finishing k too! YAY but oh sooo sad because that means they are growing up. Your two girls are beautiful!!!

Unknown said...

Leave it to you Jody to think of something so clever! i enjoyed strolling down memory lane with many of those who commented. Some things I had forgotten about and enjoyed remembering. Like the ice cream man.....made me also remember my dad's favorite one of all....The Helm's Man! Did anyone else have one of those? He had DONUTS! (and bread and some candy) but for my dad it was all about the glazed donuts!
I also was in the generation that was able to enjoy long days of play, riding out bikes all over not coming in til dinner time usually.
Jody, those are some pretty beautiful faces.....thanks for sharing!
Blessings!
Sherry

Anonymous said...

I miss my closeness to my mom. She's alive (age 85) but hasn't spoken to me for 12 years. I have tried everything.
She was a good mom when I was young and we were close then.

Kelly said...

I'm am 30 and I remember running through my grandpa's garden and having fun. My brother and I use to rise eary and play outside the entire day until our mom yelled for us to return home for dinner. It's nothing like that now days. Kids are in front of the tv all the time and wasting their brains away. My son likes tv too but we limit it. He loves being outdoors so thats basically where he lives in the summer. He's bringing me back to when I loved to be outdoors all day long. I'm even starting a garden with him this year so now we have to be out more. Ahhh, the "olden days" (as my mom calls them).

Your girls are so cute.